Emotions Turning Physical

[Deleted member 20978]

I don't know where to post this. I thought about posting to my diary but I actually am wanting to ask for help or suggestions.

My head is buzzing, I have tinnitus and am pushing an occular migraine. The last is something I have not experienced since 2003 -- losing vision partially in left eye. I also feel nauseous.

I don't know if these are PTSD-specific symptoms or cumulative stress things. I am not sure how to look at them. I feel incredibly drained from engaging in a dynamic where I felt unable to disengage. Regretting it. I also have learned from this site that it is reality that managing my own responses to anything is my responsibility. So I actually feel like I'm being "made" to feel something but prevailing wisdom is that no one can make anyone feel some way.

PLease if the advice is to reprimand, be kind. I am completely strung out on trying to do/say the right thing. I am aware of some of my own triggers being hit, which I'm thinking I should take some time with and perhaps journal about them at a later date. Meanwhile though the way my head feels, physically, is incredibly hard to sit with.

Do others have this sort of thing where emotional triggers result in extreme physical discomfort? I have eaten and drank fluids and got good sleep last several nights, so I don't know how to physically address the feelings. I guess I'm looking for suggestions both in the here and now but also ways to not get to this place. Maybe emphasis on the former just because right now I wish I could reduce the symptoms, very unpleasant. On the emotional side I feel stuck in a place where no matter how hard I try to assert my own boundaries I feel more and more ... cornered and blamed. There's a huge trigger in it.

I apologize my question feels stupid and not well formed as I try to ask it. Any help is appreciated. Please be nice.

 

[Fadeaway]

Do others have this sort of thing where emotional triggers result in extreme physical discomfort?

Yes, yes yes, 100 times over. The science to back it up is pretty strong.

You are learning, you are generating more self awarness. I think when you are calm and take the time to process it, you will come out of this with more understanding about how to manage your symptoms better before you get to this point.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

That's actually way more helpful than I thought I'd get responses :)

I am having some tea and food too. I think as I'm calmer I have my own suggestion for myself, which is to go to the gym tomorrow and try to burn the stress hormones off. I keep wanting to post to the what exercise thread and I can't because I've been so sedentary lately. I don't think I can meditate, need to find ways to get moving.

 

[barefoot]

Sounds like you're tuning in to your body and listening to what it needs - which is great! Gym sounds like a good idea - sometimes anxiety can be soothed (soak in a bath, listen to calming music etc) but sometimes physically discharging it is more effective. Sounds like your urge to get your body moving could really help :-)

 

[Deleted member 20978]

Thanks @barefoot , yeah. Discharging it. And tomorrow (today) I just remembered is the only not freezing day on the 10 day forecast. 55 and rainy. Could actually put on a rain jacket and go hike if I wake up with some daylight hours... Gonna try. Or the gym. I am promising myself here to do this.

 

[Teasel]

Do others have this sort of thing where emotional triggers result in extreme physical discomfort?

Hi @Jemini Will you see your doctor?

I think I do - the list of things that can trigger my migraines is extroadinarily broad. But I know emotional states do too, also stress.

Sometimes I wonder also if becoming physically sick is my bodies way of expressing the emotional pain I can't handle. ..or as if being physically ill somehow protects me from the emotional pain I can't handle..

I think sort of maybe that I don't count my mental / emotional Distress as counting - being valid in the eyes of others. Because growing up those things didn't count to anyone... but physical things did count

A bit too though I wonder if I am a bit keen to make everything my fault..

Hope you'll see your doctor, the physical symptoms you describe sound very much like migraine rather than ptsd to me - though like I say stress and emotional states I think can be a migraine trigger..

 

[Deleted member 20978]

@Berlinda -- I have a very caring GP but wouldn't go to him for this at this point. I haven't had a lot of physical symptoms in a while. It helps me a lot to hear that physical symptoms are common with PTSD, because I don't know, means it's not likely anything else. Last I went for bloodwork in the summer my levels were all in normal ranges (sort of amazing that). But I also have gone sedentary and not getting sunlight etc. since around when the clocks changed in Oct. Anyway I think I understand that tonight it was emotional overload leading to physical stuff. There's a few things I can try to do to avoid that. If I get the occular migraine more I may go see GP for new bloodwork, but I'm thinking it is a cardiovascular warning sign so probably with or without the doc, I need to get myself moving.

As for everything being my fault, yeah. Sorry. (joke)

Most of my life I've been pretty physically robust, though as a kid I had lots of earaches and bellyaches and such. Mental and emotional pain, I'm sadly used to pretty extreme levels at times. So when I get physical symptoms it's a warning sign to me.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

I might add, I've backed off on pot quite a bit in the last week or more. Maybe 1-2 hits close to sleeping. This is increasing some flooding and activation type symptoms. Or that's one way to look at it. Hadn't thought of this until just now. I think overall I am glad to be using this less, even though it has been really helpful in managing the more intrusive stuff. I expect this will be an ongoing thing, not about to stop completely right now, don't think I would fare too well.

I'm having my favorite tea, Easy Now.

 

[Seasounds]

@Jemini ,
Good questions!

1. Yes, I get ocular migraines from physical and emotional stress-from a combo of cumulative glare from light sources and PTSD related trauma.

2. What to do? What're you use, you don't need to suffer. With visual changes, I'd go in to the emergency department, or get into my primary care doctor right away.

This is what I do, all okayed by my doctor. A sumatriptan drug-tablets or subcutaneous injections are best (for migraines-if tablets,make sure to take the second tablet 1.5 to 2 hours after the first), plus a 2 tabs of a over the counter pain migraine formula- (aspirin,Tylenol, caffeine), and a prescribed pain med (hydrocodone, or butalbitol, plus a pseudophederine-decongestant, plus no light for 12-:24 hours, and No Phone and no computer screens, should ease your pain. (Radio is my friend, at these times.) And as you mentioned marijuana can relieve migraines.

You may feel wiped out the next day, but your pain should be 50-109 % gone.Sometimes I need to do a second or third day of the entire regiment (above) if the headache is really bad.

I also apply heat to my neck-to relax the vascular system below my head, And I alternate ice and heat to the area of my head that hurts..

3. This is my theory about stress of any kind-emotional, physical, intellectual. It is all extra energy that, when it gets to be more than we can handle, builds up, usually in an atea related to the stress, sometimes not.

4. I do believe tha ocular migraines can be prevented,and I have done so. It takes practice at recognizing the earliest of signs, preventatively wearing visual, glare-reducing ploarized sunglasses ( the dorky kind that are meant o wear over glasses tha offer protection from the light coming in on the sides and the top of eyes, and a visor. I use the Alexander Technique to help me learn to not tighten my neck muscles, and physical therapy for deep tissue release, and acupuncture for relaxation.

5. I agree, going off may medication and substances (caffeine, etc) can Brit. On headaches.

 

[Deleted member 20978]

@Saetva Thanks for all this.

I have always been averse to medications my whole life (am on just one lately). Not a judgment just something about me.

I should clarify since you've given such thoughtful suggestions -- the symptoms I've been having tonight (doing a bit better since my post) do not include physical pain. The eye feels a little pressure. I had worse ocular migraines in I believe 2004, which came on suddenly and occluded the left side of my vision in both eyes (scary symptom). After months of tests the idiot doc finally asserted what I had walked into the initial appointment saying, which was ocular migraine. And he prescribed absolutely nothing. I chose then to quit smoking and improve eating and cardio and it went away. I've had a more minor version occasionally, including tonight, although now coupled with the tinnitus and head buzzing.

Really the novel thing is getting these symptoms from emotional overload. Like in 2004 first time it happened, I had been at the gym, so a physical stressor. I think your #3 is right on, to my way of thinking. I need to get on basic general health things and find some stress outlets that are physical.

I like the heat on neck idea too.

 

[The Albatross]

Good observation about the pot. If you haven't yet read The Body Keeps Score... it's well worth it.

 

[Seasounds]

@Jemini , Thanks for clarifying-.

I had to be broken to use the prescribed meds. Due to practice at becoming aware of the slightest of symptoms, and wearing the sunglasses when at computers, I don't have the bad migraines much.